When You Leave This Place Who Will You Serve? (Part 1)

At our women's retreat last October I spoke on this topic. I really enjoyed preparing for it so I thought I'd share it with you. Here's the beginning part. I did not type out the verses, so you'll need a Bible or use biblegateway.com. This is also from my notes so not in the best form for blogging, but I'm putting it on here anyway! :P

What are your top 5 priorities in life at this moment?
Read 1 Kings 18:1-12
Elijah confronted Ahab in 17:1 that there would be a drought and left. He was going to confront Ahab once again. God had withheld rain from Israel because of their disbelief (Deut. 28:1-2, 12). Rain would be sent once again because of God’s grace. There is no repentance from Ahab, he was worried about his horses more than the people. Obadiah was Ahab’s chief servant (not the minor prophet). He’s a “secret believer”.

Ahab had allowed Queen Jezebel (his wife; a Phoenician princess who was also a priestess of Baal) to massacre prophets of the Lord, and he was promoting idolatry in the land. Elijah obeyed even though he could have died. He was in full obedience whereas Obadiah feared the Lord and had not bowed to Baal, but not like Moses in Heb. 11:24-26. Obadiah feared for his life and did not trust the Lord to protect him or the word of Elijah.

God is looking for fully followers that are fully committed to Him!
Ahab: no commitment – he allowed worship of Baal and other idols; no regard for God
Obadiah: partial commitment; quick to point out his good works, yet no boldness in his faith
Elijah: fully committed; trusted God to keep His promises and boldly proclaimed the truth of God

1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Life lesson: Partaking in a religious feast was to be taking part with the thing worshiped at the feast. You are opening yourself up to evil by partaking with pagans. Today we often do things to support our friends and family, even if they’re not in line with our faith, and we justify this by saying we are showing love toward them or through our love we can win them to Christ. Paul is very clear about his intent with the gospel in 1 Cor. 9:19-27 yet he was never lawless , he gave up luxuries so he might empathize with the people but yet always submitted to God. There’s a distinction in humbling yourself to reach the lost vs. participating in ungodly practices with the lost. You will be more recognized as a true follower of God because you choose to follow Him…which means standing alone or being different…than participating with non-believers for “their sake”.
Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” –The Hope of the Christian.